Decomposition of Fingerprints on Porous TiO2 Thin Films

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of the mixing ratio of TiO2 nanoparticles (P25) and titanium alkoxide (T-sol) on various properties of TiO2 films. The specific surface area of the TiO2 film was determined using BET analysis, while the microstructure and thickness were analyzed by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM), respectively. Transmittance and pencil hardness tests were conducted to evaluate the transparency and durability of the coating layer, respectively. The results showed that, as the P25 content increased, the specific surface area of the TiO2 film also increased, but this effect decreased as the ratio of T-sol to P25 increased. Additionally, the thickness and surface roughness (Ra) of the coating layer increased as the P25 content increased, with the thickness increasing from 210 to 950 nm and Ra increasing from 51 to 88 nm. However, the transmittance of the coating layer decreased as the P25 content increased, indicating that the films became less transparent. Furthermore, the pencil hardness of the coating layer decreased as the P25 content increased, indicating that the films became less durable. Finally, the oil contact angle decreased as the P25 content increased, indicating that the films became more hydrophilic.